I have just striped an old Zebco Sundowner 9' heavy action rod love the lenght and feel of the rod BUT when I took off the ferrals the rod was broken under the ferrals both top and bottem sections. Now what do I do with out destoring the rod or it's feel? Somebody Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Try Ralph O'Quinn at ralphee@uforty.com. He is the rod repair guru.

Tim,
Sounds to me like these were metal ferrules that you perhaps heated a little too much to loosen and remove? If that's the case then check how far down (or up) the damage is measure the outside diameter and call one of the sponsors (on the left ) that has metal ferrrules & replace with new. Definitely NOT a disaster and the difference will be minor - if you notice it at all.
If these were metal ferrules (especially on Zebco / Shakespeare blanks) 1/ use HOT water not open flame to try to loosen - however most of those were not seated with hot melt glue and may not come off without damaging the blank inside the tube 2/ do not twist the ferrule (or blank) to remove them - pull straight off.

Yes these were metal ferrules and yes i used open flame. I was wondring if I plug the hollow tube an inch or two below the break and filled with epoxy then turned and sanded smooth to old diameter of tube wether that would work or not. I have a small home hobby metal lathe that I can do this on.

Tim,
Yes, that would probably work ok - but also probably not as well as putting on the new ferrules. Look at it this way - Go ahead. If it doesn't work you can always fall back to the new ferrules

Thanks a million Ken